Self-binding harvester



(Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 1.

A. O. OARMAN.

SELF BINDING HARVBSTER.

No. 318,954. I PatentedJ e 2, 1885.

WITNESSES INVENTOI? Affarney (ModeL) fiheets-Sheet 2. A. O. OARMAN.

SELF BINDING HARVESTER.

Patented June 2, 1885.

u. PETERS. PhuXo-Lflhcgnpher, Washingtm, n1;

(ModeL) 4 sheets -sheet 3. A. O. CARMAN.

SELF BINDING HARVBSTER. No. 318,954. Patented June 2, 188

WITNESSES N. PETERS, Photo-Lithographer. Washmglom DJ;

(ModeL) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

A. O. OARMAN.

SELF ENDING HABVESTER. No. 318,954. PatentedJune 2, 1885 W/T/VESSES INVENTOH llh W, d Aflon'wy N. FETERS. Phmmukhn nphor. Wnhingtnn, D. Q

lhvrrnn STATES Parana @FFlCE.

ALVIN O. OARMAN, OF POTTEEVILLE, MICHIGAN.

SELF-BlNDING.HARVES TER.

EJFEGIFiCATION forming part of Letteis Patent No. 318,953, dated June 2, 1885.

Application filed August I5, 1883. (Model) To all 2071,0122, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALVIN O. Gamma, of Potterville, in the county of Eaton and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Grain-Binding Harvesters; and I dohercby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ol'the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in grain-binding harvesters,the object ofthesame being to provide a device wherein the mechanism for operating the tyer is situated above the platform, for the purpose of preventing the parts from being clogged by trash falling thereon. A further object is to provide simple and efficient means for imparting the nec essary movements to the several parts of grain-binding harvester; and with these ends in view my invention consists in the parts and combinations of parts as will be more fully explained, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is aview in front elevation of my improved harvester. Fig. 2- is a similar view showing the main driving-shaft in vertical section. Fig. 3 is a stnbble'side view of the machine. Fig.

4 is a view in perspective from the opposite side. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the norm bined cam and mutilatcdgear wheel and intermediate parts. Fig. 6 is a detached view of the combined cam-and-gear wheel. Fig. '7 is a detached view of the lever for operating the cord-guiding arm. Fig. Sis a. detached view of the lever for operating the cord tying and cutting mechanism, and Fig. 9 shows detaohed views of the compressor-arm shaft, sleeve, and crank.

A represents the frame of the machine, preferably rectangular in shape, and provided with suitable cutters and with the rollers B B, around which a canvas or other endless apron moves to deliver thegrain to the binding mechanism, situated near one end of the frame. The rollers B and B are suitably jonrnaled to the machine-frame, and the roller 13 is provided, near one end, with a sprocket-wheel, 0, around which the drive-chain D winds. This chain D passes upwardly and aroundthe sprocket-wheel O on the packer-shaft E, and drives the endless carrier simultaneously with the movement of the packer-shaft. The pack er-shai't E is journaled in the standard a and hanger a considerably above the endless carrier, and is adapted to be provided with suitable packers for packing and holding the grain against the compressor-arm.

As before stated.one end of the packer-shaft E is provided with a sprocket'wheel, G, for transmitting its motion to the endless carrier, while the opposite end thereof is provided with a small pinion, I), through the intervention of which motion is imparted to the packershaft from the main shaft, which latter is situated below the packer-shaft in the same vertical plane therewith.

The main driving-shaft E is connected by suitable couplings to the ground-wheel of the binder, so as to turn simultaneously therewith, and is journaled in the hangers a." and a Loosely journaled on this shaft between the hangers are the combined cam and mutilatedgea-r wheel F and the large pinion G. These wheels are free to revolve on the shaft independently thereof, and oneis adapted for imparting the necessary movements to the knottying mechanism, compressor, and ejector, while the other moves the packer and endless apron. The cam-wheel F and pinion G are separated by the sleeve H, which latter is free to move longitudinally on the main shaft independently thereof, but is locked against independent rotation. This sleeve is pro vided at opposite ends with teeth c, which latter are adapted to engage, respectively, the toothed hub d of the cam-wheel F and the toothed hub e of the large pinion, G. This sleeve is not long enough to engage the wheels F and G at the same time, and hence when one of the said wheels is in engagement with the sleeve the other is idle. The sleeve H is provided at or near its center with a collar, H, against the outer face of which the spiral spring I bears. The opposite end of this spring bears against the inner face of the pinion G, and the tendency thereof is to hold the sleevein contact with the combined camand-gear wheel F, which latter moves the binding mechanism; but this tendency is overcome by mechanism, to be hereinafter described, which automatically shifts the sleeve over in contact with the pinion G, and holds it until the pressure of grain against the compressor-arm is sufficient to release it. \Vhen the sleeve is in contact with the pinion G, the latter is revolved with the shaft'and turns the pinion b, which latter meshes with the pinion b on the packer-shalt, and consequently turns the latter simultaneously with the driveshaft.

\Vhen the parts are in the position last mentioned, the packers are operated and the endless apron moved toward the binding mechanism. As soon, however, as sufficient grain has been forced against the compressor-arm l the pressure of the same against the said arm moves the arm outwardly and trips the sleeve H by means of the trip-bar Q, hereinafter described, and causes the sleeve to move in contact with the combined cam-and-gear wheel F. The wheel F is provided on its outer face with a cam-groove, J, preferably shaped subs'tantially as shown, and is adapted to operate the cord-guiding arm K, which is attached to a shaft, N, journaled in the crosspicces g" h" to one side of the knot-tyer shaft. Portions of the cam-groove J on diametrically-opposite sides of the main shaft E are formed concentric with the shaft, while the continuations or intermediate portions of the groove run eccentrically to the said shaft. One of the concentric portions of the groove is situated near the periphery of the wheel F and the other near the center thereof, and when the wheel is turned so that the anti-friction roller i rests in the outer concentric portion of the groove the cord -guiding armstauds away from or to the inner side of the knot-tyer, and when the roller 73 rests in the inner concentric portion of the groove J the cord-guiding arm K rests under or slightly outside of the knottyer. When the roller 6 rests within either of the concentric portions of the groove, the cord-guiding arm K remains at rest; but just as soon as the roller enters either of the eccentric portions of the groove the arm begins to move.

The anti-friction roller 2', above referredto, is journaled to a stud, i, Fig. 7. on the lever M, one end of which is pivotally secured in any desired manner to the machine -frame. This lever passes over the outer face of the combined cam-and-gear wheel F, and the outer end thereof is loosely connected to the lower end of the link N, the upper end of the link being loosely secured to the outer end of the bell-crank lever N. This bell-crank lever N is pivoted at its elbow to the machine-frame, and is connected at its lower end to one end of the connecting-rod N, the opposite end of whiehlatter is connected to the crank N of the cord-guiding arm-shaft N". Thus it will be seen that when the combined cam-and-gear wheel F is turned in the proper direction the lever M is vibrated, and through the intervention of the rod N", bell-crank N, and link N rocks the cord-guiding arm K. The combined cam-and-gear wheel F is also provided on its outer face with the ears orlugsg, in which the lever P is pivotally secured. This lever is provided near its pivoted end to the inside of the collar on the movable sleeve H with an arm,

h, having an anti-friction roller, 71', pivoted;

thereto, which latter bears against the inner face of the collar H. The outer free end of the lever P is adapted to engage with the trip-bar Q, which latter is rigidly secured to the sleeve R,

to which the compressor-arm l and the ejector Sare secured. The trip-barQis bent,as shown, and the upper free end thereof is curved, so as to partly embrace the sleeve H on the main driving-shaft E and extend over the lever P, as hereinafter described. Suppose,

for the sake of illustration, that a bundle has been bound and ejected and the compressorarm 1 brought up to its vertical position to act as an abutment for the grain. As the com-1 pressorarm rises the trip-bar Q1s also moved toward the drive-shaft, and as the lever P, whichis secured to the wheel F, the said lever comes up under the curved end of the trip-bar during the revolution of the combined icamandgear whe'el F, the said curved end thereof 0 packers and endless conveyer, which are now brought into operation, deliver a sufficient quantity of grain to the compressor arm. when a sufficient quantity of cut grain has been forced against the compressor-arm I, the pressure of the same against the said arm tilts the latter outwardly, which movement turns the sleeve R, and the latter in turn movesthe trip-bar Q outwardly away from the lever P. As soon as the lever is released the spring I forces the sleeve H into engagement withthe combined cam-and-gear wheel F, thereby discontinuing the movement of the packers and imparting motion to the tying mechanism. When the sleeve H is moved toward the-pinion G by the trip-lever, the teeth of the sleeve ordinarily engage the teethof the pinion G and are disengaged from the teeth of the combined cam-and-gear wheelF; but the pinion G may stand in such position" thatthe points of the teeth of the sleeve may strike the points of the teeth on the hub of thepinion G instead of entering between thcm,and as the sleeve must move toward the pinion upon a complete revolution ofthe combined cam-and gear wheel F as it is forced over by thelever P, as before explained, it follows that some of damage to the machine. To prevent the diffi- H between the pinion G and the depending hanger a so as to enable the pinion to give or yield, if necessity demands. This spring is slightly stronger than the spring which moves the sleeve H,:and hence, after the spring H has yielded sufficiently to enable the sleeve IIO the parts must necessarily yield to prevent H to be disengaged from the wheel F, it overcomes the pressure of the other spring and forces the pinion back to its original position. The hub d of the combined cam-and-gear wheel passes through the hanger a, and is provided outside of said hanger with a crank T, to which the upper end of the pitman T is connected. This pitman is connected at its lower end to the crank T rigidly secured to the needleshaft T", which latter is jonrnaled to the machine-frame below the platform and parallel with the compressor-arm shaft 1*. The needle-shaft and the compressor-arm shaft are geared together by the pinions g, which latter cause the shafts to move simultaneously in opposite direction. The needle or binder arm T is curved, as shown, and is adapted to rest under the platform or table while the grain is being delivered to the hind ingtable, and rise up and carry the cord over the bundle when the pressure against the compressonarm is sufficient to move the trip-bar. The compressor-arm, being rigidly secured to a sleeve, Rwhich latter is loosely mounted on the compressonarm shaft, does not fall outwardly when the needle rises, but retains its vertical position until atler the bundle has been tied.

It is a crank loosely mounted on the sleeve It and connected at its upper end to the lower end of the curved pitman W. This pitnlan extends diagonally upward and is connected at its upper end to the crank It", the shaft of which latter is provided with a pinion, j, adapted to engage the segment U of the combined cam-andgear wheel F, and with a shoe U adapted to bearagainst the smooth portion of the periphery of the combined cam-andgear wheel F, for the purpose of holding the pinion and crank locked against movement, while the pinion j is out of engagement with the segment-gear. The combined cam-and gear wheel F is adapted to operate mechanism for compressing, tying, and ejecting a bundle of grain during one revolution, and

the segment U is provided with SllfllClelltteeth to turn the pinion once only, which revolution is sufficient to operate the mechanism for ejecting the bundle and elevating the corn pressor-arm.

As before stated, the crank It is loosely mounted on the sleeve R, and is provided on one side with a groove, Z, in which an outwardly-projectingstud, Z, of the sleeve R rests. This groove allows a certain limited movement of the sleeve independent of the crank R, but is held against unnecessary movement by the spiral spring V, one end of which is rigidly secured to the sleeve iii-,while the other is secured to the crank or to the machineframe. This spring Vtends to hold the compressorarm in a vertical position, and when the crank R is moved by the pitman R one of the end walls of the groove l in the crank strikes against the stud Z of the sleeve R, and turns the latter until the ejector S has assumed a vertical position and the compressor-arm I a horizontal position. The crank R is then turned back to its original position by the movement of the pinion, and the sleeve It, with its compressor 1 and ejector S, moved back to their normal positions by the spring V.

The compressor-arm shaft I is provided with the rigid finger Vt, which latter rests immediately under the compressor-arm I, and is adapted to engage therewith as the needle. T rises, for the purpose of forcing the compressor-arm inwardly against the grain, and to prevent the said arm from yielding while the grain is being compressed. This finger is made of metal, and being rigidly secured to the compressor-arm shaft 1 only moves when the shaft is moved.

In this application I merely show thelocation of the knot-tying cord holding and cutting mechanism, without describing any particular construction thereof, as I can employ the devices shown in my Patent- No. 269,826, hearing date January 4., 1888; or the device shown in my application filed May 3, Serial No. 93,800, or any other construction that will coact with the parts herein shown. This tying, holding, and cutting mechanism is located above the needle or binderarm T and the knotter-shaft X, as in the patent and applica- 95 tion before referred to, is provided with a small pinion, m, with which the pinion m on the shaft Y meshes. This shaft is suitably journaled on the machine-frame, and is provided on its outer end with a small pinion, j, adapted to be revolved once by the segment gear of the combined cam-and-gear wheel F, and with a shoe, U adapted to hold the pinion locked against unnecessary movement. The cord holding and cutting mechanism, which can be of any suitable construction, and which, in the present instance, is represented by the slide Z, are situated above the tyingbill of the knotter and act in conjunction therewith. This mechanism is provided with an upwardly-curved finger, 'n, the free end of which is adapted to rest within the oblong slot '22 of the bell-crank lever Z. This bell-crank lever is pivoted to the machine-frame alongside of the tying mechanism, and the outer end of the horizontal arm thereof is pivotally secured to the link 7' the lower end of which is secured to the inner bent end of the lever Z. The opposite end of this lever is fulcrumed to the machine-fran'ie, and the outer bent end is vibrated by the camgroove Z", in which the anti-friction roller a", journaled to the lever Z, rests. The camgroove Z is concentric with the axis of the combined cam-and-gear wheel F throughout a greater portion of its length, while the remaining portion thereof is formed tomove the outer bent end of the lever Z up and down once only at each revolution of the combined cam-and-gear wheel F, and consequently through the intervention of 1 0 the link A and bell-crank lever Z move the slide Z (which, as before stated, represents the cord cutting and holding mechanism) away from the combinedcam-and-gear wheel F and back again.

The combined cam-andgear wheel F, and

consequently the parts operated thereby, are prevented from a backward movement by the spring-dog Z which latter bears against the periphery of the said wheel. If, when the machine is'started, the tripbar Q is disengaged from the lever P, the wheel F will revolve once; but as the packers are not at work there will be no pressure against the compressor-arm I, and the sleeve will be shifted over to the large pinion G. This starts the packers and endless apron, which deliver the grain against the cord and compressor-arm I. \Vhen a sufficient quantity of grain to produce the necessary pressure has been delivered to the compressor-arm, the latter is forced outwardly a short distance and disengages the trip-bar Q from the lever P, and allows the sleeve H to be moved over to the combined cam-and-gear wheel F. The motion of the apron or conveyer and packers is now discontinued, and the other parts operated by the wheel F begin to move. The needle and compressor-arm rise to a vertical position, the needle T carrying the cord around the bundle. The cord-guiding arm then moves inwardly toward the knotter and carries the cord within reach ofthe tying-bill, and the slide Z, which represents the cord holder and cutter, grasps the cord. The tying-bill then revolves and ties the cord in a similar manner to that described in the patent or application before referred to, and the slide Z then moves back to its normal position, cutting the cord and releasing the ends thereof. The needle T and compressor-awn I then fallback to a horizontalposition, and the ejector throws the bundle from off the machine. The packers and conveyers are now thrown into operation, and deliver the grain to the compressorarm, as before described, and so on indefinitely.

Any suitable framing for supporting the parts above the platform or table,and any suitable connection between the ground-wheels and drivingshaft, can be employed.

This machine greatly simplifies'the present construction of grain-binding harvesters, and can be manufactured at a comparatively small cost.

It is evident that numerous changes in the construction and relative arrangement of the several parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, and hence I would have it understood that Ido not confine myself to the exact construction shown and described, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope ofmy invent-ion.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. Ina grain-binding harvester, the combination, with a main shaft, loose wheelsmounted thereon, and alongitudinally-sliding sleeve located between the wheels for alternately lock 4 ing them to the main shaft, of a packer-shaft operated by one of said wheels, an endless con-.

veyer operated by the packer-shaft, and tying mechanism operated by the other wheel.

2. The combination, withamain drive-shaft and a pinion and a combined cam-and-gear wheel loosely mounted thereon, and alsleeve situated between the pinion and cam-wheel and adapted to move longitudinally on the shaft independently thereof, of an endless conveyer and packer-shaft indirectly connected with the pinion, tying mechanism indirectly connected with the combined cam-aud-gear:

vided with teeth, of'a toothed sleeve, and

means whereby the said sleeve is moved longitudinally by the pressure of grain against the compressor-arm.

5. The combination, with the main drivingshaft, the loose pinion, and the combined camand-gear wheel mounted thereon, the adjacent ends of the hubs of thepinion and cam-wheel being provided with teeth, of the sleeve having a collar, a spring for forcing the sleeve against the cam-wheel, a lever pivotally secured to the cam-wheel and provided with an anti-friction roller adapted to bear against the collar on the sleeve, the compressor-arm, and trip-bar, the latter adapted to engage the lever for the purpose of forcing the sleeve against the pinion.

6. The combination, with the main drivingshaft, pinion, and cam-wheel, of the sleeve, spring-lever pivoted to the cam-wl1eel and provided with an anti-friction roller which bears against the collar on the sleeve,and the curved trip-bar actuated by the compressorarm and adapted to shift the sleeve from the cam to the pinion, and vice versa.

7. The combination, with the-endless conveyer and packer -shaft and suitable tying mechanism, of the main driving-shaft,pinion, combined cam'andgear wheel, the lever secured to the latter, sleeve, spring, and tripbar, all of the above parts adapted to operate as described.

8. The combination, with. the cam-wheel having the cam-groove J therein, of the lever M, link N, bell-crank lever N, connectingrod N, and the cord-guiding arm K.

IIO

9. The combination, with the needle and I needle-shaft, a compressor-arm shaft, compressor-arm yieldingly secured on said latter shaft, and intcrmeshing pinions secured to said shafts, of a main driving-shaft, a pinion loosely connected to said shaft, a clutch for locking the pinion to the shaft, devices connecting the needle-shaft and pinion, an arm connected with the compressor-arm shaft, and devices operating in conjunction with said arm for moving the clutch out of engagement with the pinion.

10. The combination, with the needleshaft, the shaft 1*, pinions connecting the said shafts, sleeve B, and compressor and ejector secured to said sleeve, of the crank R,pitman R pinion segment-gear U, stud on sleeve B, and spring V.

11. The combination, with the compressorarm shaft, of the sleeve, compressor arm, ejector, crank R,pitman Rfipinion j,and spring V.

12. The combination, with the needle and compressor-arm, of the compressor-arm shaft having the rigid finger W thereon, for the purpose set forth.

13. The combination, with the compressorarm, ejector, needle, and spring actuated sleeve R, of the compressor-arm shaft having the finger thereon, substantially as set forth.

14. In a grain-binding harvester wherein the tying mechanism is situated above the platform, the combination,with suitable packers for delivering the grain, a compressor-arm shaft, a compressor-arm yieldingly secured on said shaft, and tying mechanism, of amain or driving shaft, loose wheels thereon and op erating respectively the packing and tying mechanism, a clutch located between the wheels, and devices operated by the yielding compressorarm for throwing the packing mechanism out of gear with the main or driving shaft.

15. The combination, with the compressorarm, compressor-arm sleeve, and spring for holding the compressor-arm up in position, of the compressor-arm shaft and finger N, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALVIN O. GARMAN.

Witnesses:

JOHN M. 0. SMITH, Gno. A. PERRY. 

